The Maple Leafs, considered to be all but dead in some corners following the first two games of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins, are back.

Winners of a club-record 29 games at the Air Canada Centre during the regular season, the Leafs shrugged off a couple of dismal results in Boston and beat the Bruins 4-2 on Monday night.

“I didn’t feel like we played to the capability we’re capable of, so it was definitely a statement game for us,” Auston Matthews said.

“We knew this was kind of a do-or-die game for us. We’ve been good at home. The crowd was into it and it was a fun game. A good win.”

The Bruins lead the Eastern Conference best-of-seven 2-1 with Game 4 set for Thursday night in Toronto.

The victory also means the Leafs will have Nazem Kadri again in the playoffs, as the centre will return from a three-game suspension for Game 5 on Saturday in Boston.

While Matthews got his first point of the series when he scored in the second period — a goal which also was his first career game-winner in the playoffs — the Leafs had contributors hopping over the boards on every shift.

Patrick Marleau, the crafty 38-year-old veteran, scored two goals, including one for insurance with under four minutes to play when he kept on a two-on-one and beat Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on the glove side.

There was goaltender Frederik Andersen, excellent after allowing a couple of soft goals, finishing with 40 saves, including on all 18 shots he faced in the third period. And keep in mind Andersen was stellar after getting the hook in Game 2.

Andersen’s stick save on David Pastrnak was nothing short of ridiculous, with Matthews telling reporters it was “one of the best saves I’ve ever seen.”

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Tim Schaller at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Torey Krug (front) and Brad Marchand at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Brad Marchand
(left) and Charlie McAvoy at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Zdeno Chara at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk watches the puck go into the net during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Zdeno Chara and goalie Tuukka Rask at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk watches the puck go into the net during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Zdeno Chara and goalie Tuukka Rask at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk celebrates his first period Round 1 Game 3 goal against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk celebrates his first period Round 1 Game 3 goal against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk (right) and Tyler Bozak celebrate a first period Round 1 Game 3 goal against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk (centre and Tyler Bozak (left) and Mitch Marner celebrate a first period Round 1 Game 3 goal against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a first period Round 1 Game 3 goal against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Torey Krug (left) and Adam McQuaid at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Mitch Marner during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Torey Krug (left) and Adam McQuaid at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk during second period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Charlie McAvoy at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen keep his eye on the puck during second period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs James van Riemsdyk during second period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Rick Nash at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a goal during second period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen keep his eye on the puck during second period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Connor Brown during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Charlie McAvoy at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs William Nylander during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Connor Brown during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins Danton Heinen at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly and Tomas Plekanec during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins David Pastrnak at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau goes in for a goal during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against past Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau celebrates a goal during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau (centre) celebrates his goal during third period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs Patrick Marleau during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan watches the Leafs during first period Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

Leafs' fans cheer on the Toronto Maple Leafs during Round 1 Game 3 action against Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Monday April 16, 2018. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network

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Leafs at home playoff victory over Boston Bruins

And how about that Patrice Bergeron line, so prolific for the Bruins back at home with a total of 20 points in Games 1 and 2?

Leafs coach Mike Babcock moved Tomas Plekanec up to the second line between Marleau and Mitch Marner, using the trio often against Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Pastrnak. While the Bergeron group had its chances, it did not score, and after a couple of months of wandering in the wilderness with Toronto, Plekanec’s savvy came through.

In the bigger picture, the Leafs team that hit the ice on Monday night before a boisterous crowd of 19,663 resembled closely the group that racked up a franchise-record 105 points during the regular season.

Speed, which had not been as evident in the first two games in Boston, was a defining factor again. The Leafs supported each other in the offensive zone, keeping Rask on his toes and ensuring the Bruins defencemen were consistently looking over their shoulders.

“We had a better push,” Babcock said. “Our goaltender, kind of part way through the game, really settled in and got playing the way he’s capable of playing. That made huge difference for us.

“Our fans and our building, we had last change, all those things. We’ve been good at home all year. It’s nice to get one here. We’ve got a couple of days now to get regrouped and get ready for the next one.”

It was 2-2, though, thanks to a nice goal by Zdeno Chara, who banked the puck in off Andersen’s mask at 6:19.

Matthews’ first of the post-season came on a pass from William Nylander — also the latter’s first point of the series — and Toronto managed to hold the one-goal lead until Marleau’s second of the night at 16:25 of the third.

The Leafs had a scare when Andreas Johnsson left the game in the third after a collision with Marchand, but he returned, calling it “a relief.”

It’s possible the Leafs, who will have a day off on Tuesday, will get forward Leo Komarov back for Game 4.

They did just fine without him, and Kadri, on Monday.

“It was crazy, it was great,” Marleau said of the atmosphere. “I look forward to the next one.

“I think just using that excitement and energy from the fans … having the second change is something that you try to take advantage of, but for the most part, it’s just having that energy.”

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